“The Anchorage Symphony Orchestra has suspended in-person concerts for the remainder of the year, canceling the launch of its 75th season,” writes Danielle DuClos in Thursday’s (7/2) Anchorage Daily News (Alaska). “Executive Director Sherri Burkhart Reddick made the announcement on the symphony’s website Monday, saying the decision was made to protect the safety of its patrons and musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Burkhart Reddick wrote that the symphony plans to … ‘stream live performances from our Atwood Concert Hall home and other locations, create virtual performances and develop new ways to share music with you.’ … The high transmissibility of COVID-19 at large gatherings and the difficulty of social distancing in the Atwood Concert Hall contributed to the decision, Burkhart Reddick wrote. After surveying subscribers’ comfort with returning, the symphony found that 80% of respondents were not ready to attend concerts at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts without additional precautions. [Musicians’] reluctance to return was similar…. Given the social distancing measures that would be required to return, only 350 people could attend a performance [and] only 15 to 30 musicians would be able to perform onstage.… The symphony’s last in-person concert was held Feb. 29.”
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